Buffing wheel



United States BUF F IN G WHEEL Sylvester C. Mockiewicz, Chicago,.Ill.-,.assignor to American Buti Company, Chicago, lll.; a corporation ofIllinois Application November 3,0, 1954, Serial vNo'.4'72,097

Claims. (Cl. 51-193) This invention relates to bufling wheels and vmoreparticularly to an improved buiing wheel yconstructed of a plurality ofradial units or ngers having combined 'cloth and sisal laminations.

In general, metal products must be-preparedfor'plat` ing or finishing byrst polishing the article to'remove heavy burs andl smooththe metalfinish, after which a buing wheel is employed to provide a luster on thesurface and to remove anyv slight imperfections therein.

Buing wheels have heretofore been constructed primarily. Such materialis soft'and is1 of a cotton cloth material. usuallyy employed as avehicle for a bufng compound which performs the cutting and buingoperation'. It has been proposed that a buing wheel be constructed of acoarse material such as sisal to provide a harder, more rapid cuttingoperation.

lar structure to which a bung compound may be applied. Such buffs havecharacteristics of high cutting speed and long life, but are frequentlyunable to impart to thev proved butf combining the desirable features ofa cloth' buif and a sisal buff;

It is still' another object of this inventionzto'` provide;

an improved buff having a high degree of flexibility Whereby it isadapted for use on irregular and` contoured surfaces.

lt is still another object of this invention to provide a buff having aplurality of unitary fingers radially clis't posed in such a manner thatthe resulting buff.. is capable of substantial flexibility and cooloperation.-

lt is a further object of this invention toprovidetan fingers eachhaving a coarse core portion and a soft peripheral portion.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved buffin which the materials employed therein are formed into finger-likeunits extending radially from the buff center,` each of said unitsincluding cloth andil sisal laminations positioned whereby the workengaging t surface thereof is'on a biaswith respect to the `weave ofsaid materials.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improvedunit buff which may either be ofv the center+` less variety or have apermanent center secured thereto:

Further and additional objects of this invention will n become obviousfrom a consideration of this specification, the accompanying drawingsand the appended claims.- ln one form of this invention a plurality of;umts :orf:

Wheels formed of the sisal type: of material have been constructed inwhich a plurality of` annular discs are cut and sewn'into an integralhard annu arent O ,5h and the Woof fibers.

2,803,096 Patented ug. 20,1957

"ice

igers are formed` by the interfoldingof laminations of cottonand'sisalfabric/in such a manner* that the cotton completely surrounds the sisalfabric and both of said vfabrics arecut on the bias whereby the workengaging edges thereof compriseber ends of bothcthei warp bers Aplurality of such units are as'- sembled in a circularconguration,eachcof said units extending radially from the buff center.

For a more complete understanding of this invention ftrefer'encewill nowbe made to the accompanying drawings;

whereine.

invention with one unitremoved therefrom;

Fig. 2 is ,a partial sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. l taken onthe line 2--2 thereof;

Fig.: 3 is a partial enlarged view of one of the units of 'theembodiment of Fig'. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the disposition of'ethewariousYlaminationseofV sisal in onev unit oftheH embodiment of Fig. 1;

FigsSi's/a sectional viewillustrating the combined'laininations of the`cloth and sisal fabrics included in a single unit in the' embodiment ofFig. 1 and takenon the line 5:-51of'Fig: 3;

Fig;1 6v illustrates the manner inV which the plurality of units ,areassembled'into a single-integralk construction during manufacture; and

Fig. v7fdiagrammatically 'illustrates'the' weave of thesisal".Ilarninati'onsM and its': angular ldisposition with respect" Referringnow to" the drawings and more particularly vutozFig; 1, a ybutt 410 isillustrated incorporating the teach- '55 improved buit utilizing aplurality of radially extending.-

clamping ring118-between the two fingers of the folded' unit's"'12'. Theunit 12a having ngers 22 and 24 xis illus# tratedas removed from'th'eentire group tov better illustrate4the mannerinwhich thevarious unitsare constructed and assembled. y

Th'e'preliminary assembly of the units 12`on the fabric strip 20iisshown clearly in Fig. 6. The units'12'are cut to-ilength andpositionedfin side by side relationship.v

Tlierfabric` strip 20 is then placed transversely of the units'l12'along the centers thereof, and the strip 20 and units -12 -aresecured together by stitching 26. A suflicient number of unitsare-assembled in this manner to iill'theentire periphery of the clampingring 18. The unitsare'then placed on the ring 18' and the clamping lugs;shaped into place, whereby the vfingers 22 and 24 arefforced 'outwardlyin'sideA by side relationship. The lugsg16: 'of the metal clamping ring18 are closed torigidly` engage thecentral portion of the units 12 withthe annular fabric strip 20 centrallyV disposed whereby an integralassembly is formed. The metal center 28', illustrated in Fig.v l, maythen be inserted if desired. A pluralityA of lips 30 extending outwardlyfrom the periphery of'thecenter 28 are formed parallel. to the axis ofthe butfand, upon being positioned as illustrated inFig. l,

these lipsV are formed-outwardly to engage the clamping ring 18,` makingthe center 28 an integral part of the buff structure.Y The manner inwhich` the lips 30 ofthe centerf28-engage1the clamping-ring 18 isclearly shown in the sectional view of Fig. 2.

Alsofclearly.v shown in-Fig. 2 is the manner in which the. :fabric strip20 isl secured 'to` the central portion'vr 14 offeach-ot the units 12.In addition to the stitching 26,

,which forms the original set of -unitsillustrated in Fig. :6;'1

the units may be secured by stitching 32 to insure the side by siderelationship of the lingers 22 and 24.

The construction of each individual unit is an important part of thisinvention. To provide the desired deterials may be employed in thedescribed embodiment. Sisal in this application is used in its broadsense to include many types of sisal, hemp, burlap, and the like. Thefollowing table will indicate certain coarse fibers, all

gree of iiexibility and controlled metal cutting, the units of which arewell adapted to use in the above described are constructed asillustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. As invention:

Fiber Trade Name of Cloth Botanical Name Origin of Fiber CountryProducing Cloth 1. Henequen Sisal or Henequen.. Agavefourcroydes Mexico(and Cuba) MexicoA l 2. Sisal Sisal Agfwe ssalana Dominican Republic,Haiti, Dominican Republic, Haiti,

Kenya, Tanganyika, England, S. Africa, Vene- Uganda, So. American zuela.Countries. 3. Cannabis sativa Itzymend Yugoslavia and Italy.

e 4. Neoglazom'a variegata Brazil Brazil. 5, Istle (or Ixtle, Palma,Pita, Tula, Yucca carenosana, Agave Mexico Mexico.

Jaumave). loplumtha var. Poselgaerz'. l 6. Manila Hemp or Abaca ManilaHemp or Musa teztls Phllippine Islands, Su- Phillppme Islands, Japan,

Abaca. matra, Borneo, Central etal.

America. 7. Flax Linen Limrm ustctiasimum Holland lellgium, Peru,Various.

e an e a Y 8. Burlap (Hessian) Corcharua capsularia and India, PakistanIndia, Pakistan, U. K.,

coz-chorus oltoria. U. S. A., Various European Countries.

illustrated in Fig. 4, an elongate strip 36 of sisal is cut on the biasand folded to form a core for a unit having four overlying laminations37, 38, 39 and 40. A fabric cover 34 completely surrounds the sisal core36 and no free ends of either the fabric or sisal portions areexternally exposed as shown in Fig. 5. A single soft fabric sheetsurrounds the sisal core 36 and extends into the central portion thereofbetween the sisal laminations 37 and 39 to insure complete enclosure ofthe sisal core and also the internal disposition of the soft fabricedges.

The sequence of steps by which the unit is constructed is apparent fromthe cross-sectional configuration of the unit 12, as illustrated in Fig.5. The sisal core is first folded along the bight portion 42 and thencompletely surrounded by the soft fabric cover 34. The assembly of sisaland fabric is subsequently folded along the bight portion 44 to form thenished unit of the desired width and thickness with the sisallaminations 37, 38, 39 and 40 and free edges of the soft fabric cover 34completely enclosed by the soft fabric. Stitching 46 is longitudinallyapplied to the units to maintain the laminar construction and to insurea tightly formed assembly having the desired characteristics ofiiexibility, softness and cutting ability.

It is important in this invention that the laminations of each unit beso disposed that the work engaging edges thereof are bias edges of thesisal and soft fabrics. A typical sisal fabric is illustrated in Fig. 7.Therein it can be seen that both the Woof fibers 48 and warp fibers 50are disposed at a substantial angle to the work engaging surface 52.This produces several important advantages. The abilityA of the sisalfabric to hold together in use is accordingly increased and thedetrimental effects of centrifugal force minimized. Furthermore the endsof the warp and woof fibers have excellent cutting characteristics andan ability to absorb large amounts of buliing compound. Therefore theefficiency and life of the buff is increased by the use of a biasedconstruction.

The utilization of a unit construction provides excellent iiexibility aseach individual finger is free to shift in accordance with the forcesacting thereon and to conform to any unusual shape or contour. Also, asalready indicated, the bias sisal portion of the buff described hasexcellent cutting characteristics and in many instances the use of thiscompound buff will eliminate the customary initial polishing operation.The outer cotton cover on each unit provides a soft work engagingsurface which will impart the desired color and luster to the finishedproduct.

While the terms sisal and cotton have been used herein to indicate thedistinction between the coarse internal fabric and the soft coverlaminations, it is believed clear from this description that varioussubstitute ma- Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fullyexplain the character of my invention that others may, by applyingcurrent knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under varyingconditions Vof service, while retaining certain features which mayproperly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved,which items are intended to be defined and secured to me by thefollowing claims.

I claim:

l. In a buing wheel having a plurality of radially extending bufiingfingers, the improvement which comprises constructing each finger of anelongate strip of coarsely woven sisal fabric, said strip being cut onthe bias and longitudinally folded to form a core, a tightly woven softfabric cover, said cover being cut on the bias and transversely enfoldedaround the sisal core, said enfolded core and cover being longitudinallyfolded along a central bight portion in such a manner that alllongitudinal edges of both the soft fabric and sisal fabric areinternally disposed, said finger being longitudinally stitched tomaintain said sisal core and said soft cover in juxtaposed integralrelationship.

2. In a bufling wheel having a plurality of radially extending fabricbufling fingers, the improved process for making one of said buftinglingers which comprises cutting an elongate strip of sisal on the bias,longitudinally folding said strip along a central bight portion to forma core, completely surrounding the folded core by a soft fabric cover,longitudinally folding the assembly of sisal and soft fabric along acentral bight portion, and longitudinally stitching the folded assemblyto maintain said sisal and soft fabric in a tight laminar construction.

3. In a bufing wheel, the improvement which comprises a plurality ofradially extending bufiing fingers, each finger constructed of anelongated strip of coarsely woven sisal fabric, said strip being cut onthe bias and longitudinally folded to form a core, a tightly woven softfabric, cover, said cover being cut on the bias and transverselyenfolded to enclose the sisal core, said enfolded core and cover beinglongitudinally folded along a central bight portion in such a mannerthat'all longitudinal edges of both the soft fabric and sisal fabric areinternally disposed, said finger being longitudinally stitched tomaintain said sisal core and said soft cover in juxtaposed integralrelationship.

4. In a bufling wheel, a central circular rigid supporting ring, and aplurality of radially extending bufng fingers, each finger constructedof an elongate strip of coarsely Woven sisal fabric, said strip beingcut on the bias and longitudinally folded to form a core, a tightlywovenA soft fabric cover, said cover being cut on the bias andtransversely enfolded to enclose the sisal core,

said enfolded core and cover being longitudinally folded along a centralbight portion in such a manner that all longitudinal edges of both thesoft fabric and sisal fabric are internally disposed, said iinger beinglongitudinally stitched to maintain said sisal core and said soft coverin juxtaposed integral relationship.

5. In a buing wheel, a central circular rigid supporting ring, and aplurality of fabric buiing fingers extending from said ring, each ofsaid fingers comprising a web of coarsely woven sisal and a tightlywoven soft fabric 10 coextensive with and enclosing said sisal web toform a unit, said unit being folded along a central longitudinal axiswhereby all longitudinal edges of both said sisal web and said softfabric are internally disposed,

6 vtain said web and said fabric in juxtaposed integral relationship.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,090,814 Seybert Aug. 24 1937 2,108,985 Hague Feb. 22, 1938 2,134,676Sommers Oct. 25, 1938 2,146,284 Churchill Feb. 7, 1939 2,333,785Harrison Nov. 9, 1943 2,483,879 Churchill Oct. 4, 1949 2,489,193Mockiewicz Ngy. 22, 1949 2,642,706 Davies June 23, 1953 said foldedfingers being stitched longitudinally to main- 15

